Moderator candidates carve out differences

Friday

May 5, 2017 at 1:07 PMMay 5, 2017 at 1:07 PM

Scott Calzolaio - Sharon Advocate staff

Of the seven positions up for election on this year’s town ballot, only one is contested – Town Moderator.

In Sharon, the moderator’s main responsibility is to run Town Meeting. Their job is to announce the article up for vote, facilitate discussion, and keep the topic of conversation on point with the issue being discussed.

The moderator’s more minor roles include appointing members of the personnel board, to review non-union salaries of town employees, and to appoint a nominating committee that chooses finance committee candidate that are later voted on by the town.

This year, the position will be contested between Laura Nelson of 236 Edge Hill Road and Andrew Nebenzahl of 46 Cottage St.

The election is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 16.

Laura Nelson

What are some of the qualities you believe make up a good moderator? And what makes you want to be in this position?

“I think the position of moderator is important for the town. I think the moderator need to believe in open meeting and open town meeting, and be able to run meeting well giving everyone in attendance the opportunity to speak as long as it’s not repetitive. … It needs to be a respectful and courteous meeting, and efficient as well. I think that based off my background, and the amount of years I’ve attended town meeting, and that I believe in open town meeting, I think I would be a good moderator.

How do you believe your background with help with this position?

Nelson: "(My background) is a little varied. Most recently, my career has been in software development project management either as a certified project management professional (PMP) or as a certified Scrum Master (CSM). … That is what I’ve been doing in my career for the past 20 plus years, is running meetings.

"I’m hoping to improve town meeting by making in more participatory. I think when people who move into the area, especially from out of state, who may not understand what Town Meeting is all about. I think it would be important to have some education on it."

How are you involved with the town currently?

Nelson: "I’ve been on the finance committee since 2006, so I’m now on my 11th year. I’m very familiar with Town Meeting, and I’ve attended them all as well."

What might you say to the opposition?

Nelson: "So, I don’t believe in negative campaigns, but one of the pieces of information that I think is very important for people to know is that my opponent was chair of the charter commission, which would have removed Town Meeting from local town government here, and it was defeated on a margin of over two to one.

"Out of the 12 Town Meetings since last night, he’s attended three. So I feel that if my opponent doesn’t believe in Town Meeting, and doesn’t even bother to attend Town Meeting, then I don’t believe that person, whoever it is, should be town moderator."

Anything else to say?

Nelson: "I have a Facebook group set up for my campaign (www.facebook.com/groups/LauraForModerator/), I also have a separate email address for people not on Facebook that want to communicate (LauraForModerator@gmail.com).

"I’m very familiar with the process (of Town Meeting) and I’m very familiar with how some people may feel about particular items, which doesn’t sway me one way or the other. There are always opposing viewpoints, and everyone has the right to be heard."

Nelson also mentioned that it’s legally possible to keep her position on the finance committee while being the town moderator, but she will likely resign from the finance committee if elected.

Andrew Nebenzahl

What are some of the qualities you believe make up a good moderator? And what makes you want to be in this position?

Nebenzahl: “I think a good moderator exhibits patience, a knowledge of the rules of order, of course, and most importantly, a diplomacy that will allow folks the opportunity to be hear on the issues that are facing the town, contrasted by an efficiency at Town Meeting. … I have a sense of how to run a controversial meeting and allow people to be heard, and to make sure that it’s respectful and substantive, but moving it along in a way that keeps people attentive."

How do you believe your background will help in the position? Nebenzahl: "I think this is three-fold. Number one, is that I’ve been active in town government for 15 years. I’ve been interested (in town government) since I moved here 30 years ago.”

“Town meeting is something I’ve given a lot of thought to. How to organize it efficiently, and as I said, some of the changes that we advocated for back then (when he chaired the charter commission) have been adopted for the benefit of town meeting.”

"One example, … for many years, up until 6 or 7 years ago, was that if there was a warrant article, the finance committee always made the first motion, even if it voted against the article. Which created this really bizarre system. … In order to actually talk about the article, you had to defeat the finance committee’s motion for indefinite postponement.

"Town meeting ultimately adopted a change that the proponent of the article had the right to make the first motion. That’s a good example of a change that came out of the work of the two committee’s I was on.

“I've been a layer for 34 years, I've had to go through numerous jury trials where you have to understand the role of the advocates and the judge, and be respectful, while also maintaining what your goal is.”

Anything to say to the opposition? Nebenzahl: “I only have one opponent, and she is a lovely person. I’ve known her for years. I certainly have nothing adverse to say about her.”

Anything else you’d like to mention? Nebenzahl: "The job is one of enormous respect, and like the other work that I’ve done, what is lost on some people is that it requires a lot of preparation. You don’t just walk into Town Meeting and read a script. … There’s a lot of planning to do with the town clerk’s office.”

“In 2000 I moved my law practice to Sharon, investing in the town of Sharon is an important value to me. ... Serving in town government is something that has been in my DNA for a long time.”

In the past 15 years, Nebenhahl has served on five town committees. He served on the school committee as a member, as vice-chair, and as chair. He also served on the capital outlay committee, the priorities committee, the government study committee, and the charter commission.

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Sharon Advocate ~ 254 Second Ave., Needham, Massachusetts 02494 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service